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Post by keyboy on Sept 6, 2017 13:42:28 GMT
Patrol After Action Reports are due no later than September 17th, 2017. May 4th 1943Good morning gentlemen, I won't take up much of your time, as I know that you are preparing to get underway. We have most patrol areas covered this month; but please just ensure that if your patrol is in the China Sea, then you will need to remember that you will be in shallow waters and as a result, you will not be able to dive towards or below test depth.
With the Japanese losing their Admiral, Tokyo would like a trophy from the US. Make sure it isn't you and your crew. Usual China Seas reminder, but above all remember your training and use the experience of your last patrol to guide you and your crew back home next month. God speed. - Captain Lyndon Woodbury - SUBRON Commander ALL Boats have been upgraded with: SJ Radar - July 1942 and Modified MK 14 Torpedoes (Dud 1-3) - August 1942
Ships on PatrolUSS Blackfish - keyboy USS Silversides - tamari USS Grunt - crushedhat USS Rover - silentshark USS Flasher - lars Currently at Sea
USS Stingray - captbridge USS Cuttlefish - gregory smith USS Haddock - keyboy RefitUSS Catfish - cajun - June 1943 USS Defiant - wsmithjr - July 1943 --------------------------------- Special Instructions: None--------------------------------- [P1a]Patrol Assignment 1943 Jan-Jun Patrols
China Sea (M) ( Shallow Water - Cannot exceed test depth)None China Sea ( Shallow Water - Cannot exceed test depth)
None SolomansUSS Blackfish - keyboy USS Rover - silentshark Java SeaUSS Flasher IndochinaNone Philippines USS Silversides - tamari USS Grunt - crushedhat Important Information needed in Patrol Report
Boat Name and ID: Commanders Name: Patrol Assignment: Successful Patrol: Yes or No Number of Freighters or Tankers Sank: (Include ship name) Number of War Ships Sank: (Include ship name) Capital Ships Sunk: (Include ship name) Total Tonnage Destroyed: Special Assignment Completed: Yes, No, or N/A Refit Time: Awards Requested:
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tamari
Lieutenant Commander
Posts: 38
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Post by tamari on Sept 10, 2017 4:50:43 GMT
May - June 1943
Boat Name and ID: USS Silversides SS-236 Commanders Name: Oscar Garrard Patrol Assignment: Philippines Successful Patrol: Yes Number of Freighters or Tankers Sunk: 1 freighter (Kyokko Maru, 6800 tons) Number of War Ships Sunk: 0 Capital Ships Sunk: 1 - BB Fuso, 29,300 tons Total Tonnage Destroyed: 36,100 Special Assignment Completed: NA Refit Time: 1 month (no damage) Ready in August 1943 Awards Requested: Battle Star, SCPI, Navy Cross
Expert Executive Officer roll needed
Getting transferred to a new Gato-class boat was something of a surprise, but I'll put it down to right place, right time. After taking a few weeks for the officers and crew to learn the ins and outs of their new sub, we set out for next patrol in early May, headed for the waters of the Philippines.
We arrived off of Luzon, and tracked a contact by radar. It was a large freighter with friends. I decided to stay submerged and fire from medium range at night with 3 torpedoes from the aft tubes. The shots looked on target, and we got one explosion. The escorts found us and shook us up a bit, but we took minimal damage. They moved off, and I took a sighting. The freighter was still mobile, and alone! We closed the range and hammered it with the deck gun, and it quickly settled into the water. Not waiting for the escorts to come back, we left the area.
A few days later, the radar picked up another contact during the day, and it turned out to be one of the so-called Japanese Q-ships. The XO thinks the ID was the Awata Maru. We followed it, and the escorts, into the evening. I decided on the same attack, 3 torps out the back submerged at medium range.
That's when we learned for sure this was no ordinary freighter. It evaded all the torpedoes and the Japanese ships started to counter-attack. Between water in half the ship, half of the electric motors down, and steadily-building injuries to the crew, we took a beating before they disengaged.
With an impressive set of repairs, we had only minor damage in the end. My instincts were telling me to let this one go, as it smelled like a organized sub-hunting group. But I ignored them, and took four more shots from the forward tubes. This time one actually hit - with a resounding THUD heard on sonar. Cue more hits and more damage on us, as we were getting tossed around by these guys. Again, we got out of it before being crippled, and again excellent repair work left us with no damage.
I let her go this time - and am submitting a report for the other sub skippers about this hunting group.
The days turned over into June with nothing seen. Then we hit the jackpot - a combat fleet heading south. I didn't want to attack in broad daylight, but there was no way we could follow into the evening. The best shot we had was on one of the older-design Battleships, and we fired all six forward tubes at her from long range.
Two of our fish hit, and the BB, ID'd as the Fuso, quickly listed to the damaged side and slowed down greatly. The escorts scattered, but did not find us! Careful maneuvering on battery power kept us in range until it was dark, and then we fired four more torpedoes from long range. Another explosion scored the finishing blow, and the big ship rolled over and sank. Again the escorts failed to find us! We earned our pay for the month.
The trip home was uneventful, and we sailed into harbor with a Capital Ship pennant flying.
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Post by crushedhat on Sept 10, 2017 5:36:36 GMT
25 June 1943USS Grunt enters Brisbane with obvious hull damage and a broom tied to the periscope. Standard Report FormatBoat ID: USS Grunt Successful Patrol: Yes Number of Freighters or Tankers Sank: 3 Number of Non-Capital Warships Sank: 1 Capital Ships Sank: 0 Total Tonnage Destroyed: 8,700 Special Assignment Completed: NA Refit Time: 3 months, ready Oct 43 Awards Requested: Gold Star to Combat Patrol Insignia for entire crew Battle Star for Submarine Gold Star to Silver Star for Cdr Neil Balaton Narrative: Grunt left Brisbane for our 6th War patrol on 5 May. Even though we were initially sailing off the coast of Australia, the Japanese bombing of Darwin three days earlier had everyone on high alert. As we entered the Coral Sea we received the news of the Allied victory at Tunis. The afternoon of the 18th, while entering the Molucca Passage, we encountered a small freighter (4,600 tons) under escort by a 13-GO MS (500 tons). I ordered the crew to battle stations and conducted a submerged torpedo attack at long range due to the telltale wake of the MK14. All four stern tubes were fired at the freighter, and all four proceeded to miss. Apparently the fish went wide enough that no one on the target or the escort noticed them. We followed the quarry conducting a surface torpedo attack at medium range shortly after sunset. This time I used the bow tubes, sending three fish each at the freighter and the escort. Both ships took multiple hits, quickly breaking up and sinking. The night of the 27th we intercepted a small troopship (4,000 tons) and Sokutun class ML (700 tons) making for Manila harbor. I again conducted a surface torpedo attack from medium range, sending three fish at each target. All three torpedoes hit the troop ship and all three fish failed to detonate. The ML managed to evaded all three torpedoes aimed at it. Our attack generated a great deal of activity on the part of the escort, though it was all focused in the wrong direction. Still, it was enough to prevent our having another shot before both vessels were safely inside the harbor. Transiting the Bashi Channel the last day of May the lookouts spotted two columns of smoke that proved to belong to another small troopship (2,400 tons) and a 13-GO MS (500 tons). I sent our last four stern fish at the transport, scoring several hits and sending her to the bottom. The escort was too busy trying to save floundering troops to cause us much of a problem and we slipped away. AS we left the Philippine Islands and headed for Papau new Guinea we learned that the Japenese had been driven off the last of the Aleutians. Then midday on the 11th we crossed paths with another small freighter (1,200 tons) and another Sokutun ML (700 tons). Conducting a submerged attack from medium range I fired the last of our torpedoes at the freighter. While all four fish hit, only one functioned. Still, that was enough to send the small freighter to the bottom. This time we didn’t get off so easy. The escort followed the telltale wakes back and subjected Grunt to a series depth-charging (3 rounds) before we were finally able to dive deep enough to find a thermocline to hide our presence. It was touch-and-go for a while with the boat threatening to come apart at one point as I pushed her deeper (rolled a 4 with 3 hull hits counting the one for exceeding test depth). On the 14th we heard about the Supreme Court ruling that saluting the flag could not be made mandatory. Kind of makes you wonder what, and who, we’re fighting for out here. That disappointment was quickly supplanted by the news of the landing on New Georgia on the 21st. We entered Brisbane on 25 June. The boys on the Griffith will have their hands full fixing the damage to the hull, both enemy inflicted and our own, as well as replacing the #4 Electric and the Hydrophones. I guess the crew will have an extended leave, Grunt not being ready until October. Respectfully submitted, Neil Balaton, Cdr, USN, commanding USS Grunt
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lars
Ensign
Posts: 5
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Post by lars on Sept 12, 2017 14:09:44 GMT
From: USS Flasher
To: COM SUBSOWESPAC
Subject: After Action Report, June 13, 1943
USS Flasher entered Op Area JAVA SEA after a routine transfer south of Papua. No contacts until May 17 when an escorted convoy of three small freighters was sighted off BANJARMASIN. Decided to attack at mid range in daylight, with 4 torps aimed at a 3.700 BRT Maru and a further 1 each at a 2.900 and 900 Maru respectively. The two smaller Marus were hit but torps failed to explode. As for the larger Maru, two torps of four missed target, one went cicrular and the last one failed to explode upon hitting the Maru starboard midships.
Picked up by a veteran escort that scored one depth charge hit in the first attack run, causing minor hull damage. Failed to shake the escort off and suffered a second hit, this time resulting in a limited flooding. Emergency repairs prevented further flooding. Still unable to shake off the escort and in a third attack run, Flasher suffered two close detonations, this time damaging the fuel tanks and causing further flooding. Emergency repairs could only stop the flooding after longer time, causing Flasher to take in a substantial amount of water.
Decided to exceed test depth to try to avoid further attacks, but leaking fuel and repair noises likely made the escort pick up Flasher yet again. The fourth attack run did only cause insignificant damage but two explosions were very close.
Finally, after the fourth run, the escort lost Flasher and it was possible to use silent running to evade.
Repairs at sea were undertaken, making fuel tanks operational but one AA gun remained inoperable.
Further searches off BANJARMASIN produced no contacts. Flasher continued ESE and initiated patrolling of MAKASSAR, but failed to make any contacts.
Flasher continued on June 03 to patrol BANDA SEA, again without making any contacts.
Due to fuel limitations, Flasher started return voyage on June 08, entering BRISBANE on June 12.
USS Flasher went into dock for hull repairs and after refitting and restoring, will be operational beginning of August, 1943 (two months repair - 2 hull hits)
Respectfully,
Josh Strickland Joan Lundburg
LTCDR, USN
Boat Name and ID: USS Flasher (SS 249) Commanders Name: LTCDR Strickland Lundburg Patrol Assignment: JAVA SEA Successful Patrol: NO Number of Freighters or Tankers Sank: 0 Number of War Ships Sank: 0 Capital Ships Sunk: 0 Total Tonnage Destroyed: 0 Special Assignment Completed: N/A Refit Time: 2 months Awards Requested: None
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Post by keyboy on Sept 13, 2017 10:57:30 GMT
Boat Name and ID: USS Blackfish Commanders Name: Kurtis Mayfield Patrol Assignment: Java Sea Successful Patrol: Yes Number of Freighters or Tankers Sank: 4 - Genzan Maru (5700t), Shozan Maru (5900t), Manko Maru (4500t) and Kojun Maru (1900t) Number of War Ships Sank: 3 - CL Tatsuta (3300t) and 2 x escort (2400t) Capital Ships Sunk: 0 Total Tonnage Destroyed: 23,700t Special Assignment Completed: N/A
Refit Time: Standard
Awards Requested: Medal of Honor for LCDR Kurtis Mayfield Request for Presidential Unit Citation Battle Star for Sub Submarine Combat Patrol Insignia for crew
Crew Names: Crew Skill: Trained
CDR Kurtis Mayfield Chief Engineer: Lt Larry Wilson, USN Pharmacist's Mate: PhM1c Earl Coleman, USN Executive Officer: Lt Christopher White, USN 3rd Officer: Lt (jg) Bobby Bryant, USN 3rd Officer: EXPERT
May 4th 1943 After such an excellent patrol and having three months in refit, all the crew were eager to get going to a new patrol area in the Java Sea,
May 13th 1943 We reached the patrol point around noon and had made no enemy contact since leaving Brisbane.
May 18th 1943 A few days later, just after dawn, an escorted passenger ship was spotted. After identification, I gave the order to remain submerged and wait till the light faded. That evening we got to within medium range and fired four fish from the bow tubes. Both torpedoes hit the escort, but only one exploded. It must have hit something important as it exploded and sank quickly. The same result was achieved against the passenger ship, with just one Mk14 detonating. This time however it took over an hour for the Genzan Maru to sink beneath the waves, which was how long we remained undetected before slipping away.
May 19th 1943 The following day, just after 07:00 an unescorted passenger ship was spotted. After identification, I gave the order to get in close and use the pitiful deck gun to put her under. The crew acted with speed and efficiency and after two full salvoes hit, the Manko Maru sank beneath the waves.
May 25th 1943 At around 22:00, BB (3rd Officer - Bobby Bryant) spotted a dim light off the port bow and as a result we got in for a closer look. I had been presented with an unescorted freighter and so the gun crew were readied as we closed nearer. The ship was identified as the Shozan Maru and it slipped beneath the waves, after the gunnery team unloaded with full salvoes from the 3” Deck Gun and a single fish from one of the aft tubes.
June 5th 1943 Another evening and another encounter. With solutions plotted for a small freighters and escort, I wanted to lessen the chance of detection, so only two fish were fired from the bow tubes at the two targets. Both torpedoes hit the freighter and with only one being a dud, the resulting explosions caused the Kojun Maru to sink. Only one of the two fish that hit the escort detonated, but it was enough to send the escort beneath the waves. Attacking whilst remaining at medium range had done the trick, as once again the escorts failed to detect us, though they were close to it.
June 12th 1943 We had to wait for about a week for our next engagement. Just after dusk, an escorted light cruiser was spotted. After identification, I gave the instructions, that we would get to within long range and surface. That evening we got to within long range and fired four fish from the aft tubes. Three torpedoes hit the cruiser, but only two exploded. It was still enough to ensure that the CL Tatsuta would not be attacking the US navy again. This time however it took over an hour for the ship to sink, which was how long it took for us to remain undetected before escaping. During that hour, the escorts attacked and as a result, we sustained flooding damage and something was amiss with the aft torpedo doors. It was not long before the chief and his team were making emergency repairs. They couldn’t do anything about the twisted and seized aft torpedo doors, but they did pump the water that had flooded one of the compartments.
June 24th 1943 Arrived in Brisbane, Australia, after traversing the rest of the Arafura Sea and finally getting to the Coral Sea, with no enemy contact on our way to the mainland, though the cook did present me with a rabbits foot a few days earlier. Refit will be completed during July.
USS Blackfish will be ready for a patrol in August 1943.
Patrol report submitted by Commander Kurtis Mayfield, commanding the USS Blackfish, Subron 9, Pacific Fleet.
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Post by silentshark on Sept 16, 2017 13:58:15 GMT
Boat ID: USS Rover Commanders Name: Robert Plant Patrol Assignment: Solomons Special Assignment Completed: NA Successful Patrol: Yes
Number of Freighters or Tankers Sank: 2 Number of War Ships Sank: 0 Capital Ships Sunk: 0 Total Tonnage Destroyed: 14,700 (14,700)
Ships Sank: May 20th, 1943 - Taito Maru (P) 4500t May 20th, 1943 - Kyuei Maru (T) 10,200t
Ships Damaged: NA
Refit Time: 2 months, ready for patrol September 1943
Awards Requested: Battle Star for Sub Submarine Combat Patrol Insignia for crew
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Post by keyboy on Sept 19, 2017 1:28:37 GMT
30th June 1943
To: Vice Admiral Thomas T. Tompkins
Submarine Squadron 9 (SUBRON 9) Report: Five US submarines set sail from Brisbane from the 1st May 1943 onwards. I submit the following results.
Submarine | Freighters Sunk | Tankers Sunk | Warships Sunk | Capital Ship Sunk | Total Sunk | Status | USS Grunt
| 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 8,700 tons | Refit | USS Silversides
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 36,100 tons | Refit | USS Blackfish | 4 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 23,700 tons | Refit | USS Rover | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 14,700 tons | Refit | USS Flasher | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 00 tons | Refit | Totals
| 9 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 83,200 tons |
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Four of the five submarines completed a successful patrol and each will receive a Battle Star.
Four of the five Captains completed a successful patrol and each will receive the Submarine Combat Patrol Insignia.
US Submarines Lost: NonePROMOTIONSNoneAWARDS AND DECORATIONS MEDAL OF HONORCDR Kurtis Mayfield of the USS Blackfish------------------------------ NAVY CROSSLCDR Oscar Garrard of the USS Silversides----------------------------- SILVER STAR
CDR Neil Balaton of the USS Grunt---------------------------- BRONZE STARNone-------------------------------- PURPLE HEARTNone------------------------------- UNIT AWARDS Presidential Unit Citation for crew of USS BlackfishSincerely yours
Captain Lyndon Woodbury, Submarine Squadron 9 Commanding
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